A FAMILY of five slept in their car in a mid-Wales lay-by last night after claiming pleas for a place to live were rejected by three councils.

David and Victoria O'Brien say they are forced to live in the Ford Escort hatchback with their three sons because neither Gwynedd, Powys nor Wolver-hampton councils can find them a home.

Last night, David, 35, said: "That's the way it is. No one will help us. We are being passed from pillar to post."

The couple moved to mid Wales 18 months ago with their sons, James, 14, Brendan, 12, who is registered disabled, and Luke, 10.

They quit their Wolverhampton council house after James was the victim of a violent gang attack and the family was advised to move away.

Initially, they lived in a cottage in Pennal in Gwynedd but had to leave the property when the landlord needed the house. Gwynedd council provided temporary bed and breakfast accommodation.

But in January, the council said they didn't count the cottage at Pennal as a settled address and could not help the family any more.

Mr O'Brien said: "We were made homeless through no fault of our own and the landlord has written a letter saying we paid our rent on time.

"But the councils have refused to help us and now we're back in the car.

"Wales is where my heart is. I've been coming to the country since I was two years old. I love the country and it's where I want my family to live."

The councils reject the O'Briens' claims. Powys County Council insists two offers of accommodation have been turned down in the past week.

Gwynedd Council concluded they had made themselves homeless.

Gwynedd council said the authority's housing service placed the family in temporary accommodation for a period of 28 days.

A council spokeswoman added: "Gwynedd Council carried out a homeless assessment on the family and a decision was made that Mr and Mrs O'Brien and their family had made themselves intentionally homeless.

"The decision was made based on information received from their previous landlord, Wolverhampton City Council.

"Mr and Mrs O'Brien have appealed against this decision and the original decision has been upheld. Therefore the duty to accommodate the family has ended."